This story is the second in a series previewing the three-day NFL draft that begins Thursday. Monday: Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel.

The Browns got their man in free agency when they signed outside linebacker Paul Kruger to rush quarterbacks, but why stop there?

Inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson would be very happy if they drafted another pass rusher on Thursday to play right outside linebacker. It doesn't matter that Jabaal Sheard seems to be making a smooth transition from left end, which he played in 2011 and 2012.

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"If they do, the better," Jackson said during the minicamp that concluded Thursday. "Why not? We have a good front. Why not add another solid piece to the puzzle? There's no guarantee we're going to be great. We obviously have to go out and play the game. I will welcome any pass rusher they bring in. Trust me."

Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo from LSU should be on the board when the Browns pick sixth in the first. General Manager Mike Lombardi might even be able to trade down and get him. In fact, Tony Pauline of TFY Draft Insider says that's Plan B if they cannot get Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner at six.

Mingo is one of the highest-rated defensive players in the draft, but he also comes with some question marks because he had more tackles and sacks in 2011 as a sophomore than he did as a junior last fall.

Mingo definitely has his skeptics. One of them is Mike Mayock of the NFL Network. Mayock prefers Sam Montgomery, another LSU product. Montgomery will be an end in a 4-3 defense or a linebacker in the 3-4 the Browns play.

Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly disagrees. He doesn't see Montgomery going before the third round. He sees Mingo as a first-round pick.

"Barkevious Mingo gets a lot more attention, but I feel Sam Montgomery brings it every snap more than Mingo does," Mayock said. "He's not as quick. He's not as gifted, but he's physical and tough."

Mingo had 46 tackles, including 15 tackles for losses, and eight sacks as a sophomore. He went into 2012 rated among the top five players overall for the 2013 draft, but he had only four sacks last fall. He decided to skip his senior year.

"I know I had more sacks (in 2011)," Mingo said at the NFL scouting combine. "We kind of contain-rushed a lot of teams to not let them get outside the pocket. It kind of took away from what we wanted to do, but it helped the team and helped us win."

Mingo showed at the combine that perhaps his individual stats did tail off just because he was following orders. He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, leaped 10 feet, 8 inches in a standing broad jump and posted a 37-inch vertical jump. He showed he could backpedal to cover a tight end or running back and showed a quick first step in pass rush drills. Sheard is learning pass coverage.

One reservation about Mingo: He played defensive end in his two full seasons at LSU. He never played linebacker in college or high school.

"While possessing explosive straight-line speed, he has very long legs, which make him less fluid when changing directions than ideal," Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com says in his scouting report. "Relies upon his burst upfield to beat pass blockers and simply hasn't developed the counter moves to complement his speed in three seasons of action, leading to some concerns that he won't."

Mingo played in 13 games but made only one start in 2010. He notched 35 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in a part-time role.

"Has an explosive first step and the combination of flexibility and closing speed to exponentially add to his sack numbers in the more pass-happy NFL than he had while at LSU," Rang wrote. "Alert defender who will get his long arms into passing lanes when unable to get to the quarterback.

"More physical than his frame looks. Fights through blockers at the line of scrimmage to make plays in the running game and anchors surprisingly well given his lean lower half. Possesses as much upside as any prospect in the 2013 draft."

Rating the defensive linemen

Player, college Height Weight 40

1. DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida 6-2 1/2 297 4.92

He can play end or tackle and penetrates well.

2. DE Ezekiel Ansah, BYU 6-5 1/4 271 4.63

Very quick and is learning. He could play linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

3. DT Sheldon Richardson Missouri 6-2 294 4.88

He can toss blockers out of the way for his linebackers.

4. DT Star Lotulelei, Utah 6-2 1/2 311 5.15

Draws the double-team, but could be a two-down player.

5. DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina 6-2 1/2 313 5.03

Quick, ran a 1.73 10-yard split. He can play through injuries.

Best of the rest: DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State; DE Datone Jones, UCLA; NT Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State